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Tuesday, February 14, 2017

On a sunny afternoon in Georgia, underneath a golden dome in Atlanta, the talk in this historic building was about manufacturing … and jobs.

"I am proud to announce that it will expand its Georgia presence with an expansion of its facilities in Columbus," said Gov. Nathan Deal.

Pratt & Whitney will invest approximately $386 million in its Columbus, Georgia, operation to both increase the production of parts as well as reduce costs for new and mature engine programs. Additionally, more than 500 new employees will join the workforce in the coming years.

"We continue to grow and strengthen our position as a leader in manufacturing through innovation, through capital investments as well as educational partnerships," said Joe Sylvestro, vice president, Aftermarket Operations.

New machines need new space, and Pratt & Whitney will build a 20,000-square-foot facility for specialized manufacturing and another 200,000-square-foot building to overhaul Geared Turbofan™ engines, which officially went into service in 2016.

"The employee reaction has been very positive overall," said Keith Bagley, general manager of Columbus Forge. "They see the growth coming at us, they recognize the investment we have put in the facility. And with the size and magnitude of the investment, there's going to be even more excitement."

The investment is another example of the company's plan to build on its robust infrastructure to support products and services – while at the same time building on a skilled workforce.

"Pratt & Whitney is clearly an economic driver in our state, as evidenced by the news we are sharing today," Gov. Deal said.

Also of note is Pratt & Whitney's relationship with Columbus Technical College. The school will offer four- to nine-week programs focused on aerospace mechanics and advanced manufacturing technologies.

At the state capital in Georgia, I'm Jamie Muro for Pratt & Whitney Communications.